A few weekends ago, I traveled along the back roads down to good ole Andalusia to attend a friends wedding. While sitting at her beautiful ceremony, I realized that I needed to start planning my wedding like...yesterday. At night when Shelby was asleep, I would turn the channel to Say Yes to the Dress and watch it until the really feminine guy starting looking like an actual female. During the commercials, I couldn't refrain from jumping up and down - I felt like Rachel McAdams in the movie Time Travelers Wife. The jumping suddenly stopped when Shelbys dad pounded on the door, which made my heart completely stop. As I fell to the ground, my mind suddenly remembered the terrible thing that had happened at the wedding reception earlier that day. I know, I know - "Haley, why are you all about leaving everyone in suspense?" Patience is a virtue, my dear, sweet, precious friend. Take a deep breath...here goes everything I can remember. ;)
 |
| Most people get drunk at weddings. Maggie and I? We run off to the bathroom to take beautiful pictures of ourselves! A pictures worth a thousand words... |
 |
| "Hmmm... I wonder if I could climb that tree in this dress." |
My sister and my bridesmaids finished pinning my veil to my head and fluffing my dress, which led them all to start screeching with excitement. Little did they know, I was a nervous wreck. The air consisted of hairspray and perfume, leaving me "breathless". After they finished putting their shoes on, they quickly exited the room allowing me to have some unwanted alone time. All I could do was worry about everything, which resulted in me walking around, flapping my arms like a chicken so that I wouldn't get sweat stains on my dress. I heard a familiar voice in the distance as I quickly pretended like I had been practicing my "farewell" wave for when my groom and I left for our surprise honeymoon. My sister snuck back in, after getting my bridesmaids to their designated area, just to make sure I was still breathing and to supposedly "check" my lipstick. Then, she took a deep breath and said, "You look absolutely beautiful, Haley. Now, make sure you don't trip because, well...we all know how clumsy you are...plus, I won't have a camera in my bouquet to take a picture of that perfect scene. That would eat me up on the inside until the day that I die if I missed capturing that moment." She finally recognized that my eyebrow was raised and said, "HA - I'm only teasing...but, I do want you to know that I am so happy for you. I know two important people couldn't make it today, but just know that they are here in spirit. Trust me...they wouldn't miss their baby girl getting married for the world." I looked at Alysson as tears swelled up in my eyes and said, "I love you, Alyie-boo. Crap - my mascara!" We started laughing, then she walked to grab something and said, "Haley - don't you dare do it! You can't be a bride with raccoon eyes." After patting under my eyes with a tissue, we both took a deep breath, then she walked out to go make sure the other bridesmaids hadn't started "celebrating" with the groomsmen yet. A spirited lady came in and announced, "The show starts in five minutes!" I gave her two big "thumbs up" symbols so she would skedaddle, then I slowly walked over to the window and looked at the sky. There were two clouds lurking around up there, and all I could see were my parents' faces. I blew them a quick kiss, leaving my spiced wine lipstick color on the windowpane. The same lady came back in dancing while telling me it was time. I looked at her while picking up my dress so I could make it to her without face planting and said, "great choice of words, haha." Before shutting the door on my old life, I took in one last deep breath and looked around, making sure nothing dropped off my body while I was pretending to be a bird. Throughout the beautiful building, I could hear my favorite piano piece, Pachelbel Cannon in D, filling up every empty space around me as I nervously walked to my final destination before the "big show" started. With every step that I took, my heart felt weaker and weaker. As I walked up the mountain of steps, the front doors slowly opened as if I were Rose from the movie Titanic in the scene where she entered the ballroom like she was floating with perfection. My heart suddenly began to do a dance in my chest, just not as graceful as I wanted. It was almost as if it were a stripper trying to jump out of a huge, white cake. I quickly began to shake, blindly trying to find something to grab onto before I really did hit the ground like Alysson was hoping for. Right when my knees felt like jelly, two arms gently linked with mine and lifted me right back onto my feet. As I quickly glanced to each of my sides, I saw my two brothers, smiling and ready to escort me at my time of need. Before we started the long haul to the end of the isle, Tyler looked at me and said, "Haley, you look wonderful. Oh, and just remember - if he hurts you...he's dead. Actually, he's pretty lucky to be alive right now...make sure he remembers that." He started mumbling under his breath the lyrics of "Cleaning this Gun" by Rodney Atkins, then checked his hair in the huge window beside the door we were about to enter. As I started to laugh, Justin quickly chimed in and said words that I will never forget. "Yeah, he's a really lucky guy, Haley. We are all so proud of the person you turned out to be - even mom and dad are more than proud of you. You went out and chased your dreams...now, it's time for you to enjoy life, oh, and to finally sleep at night...seriously." I smiled at him and slowly responded, "Thank you, Justin. Thank you both for being here." I squeezed their arms tighter then continued, "I love you two with all of my heart. But can y'all just do me one, tiny favor?" They both looked at me with an adventurous look, as if I were about to say "lets blow this Popsicle stand!" Instead, I took a breath and said, "please...just don't let me fall." They both looked at me and said in harmony, "never." After I successfully won the battle with my tears, we each took a long breath as the second set of doors were opened. My legs started to tremble when the two ushers opened the door, unveiling something similar to Paris in springtime; there were white peonies and orchids embellishing every pew. Also, white lights were perfectly strung, making everything glisten with joy. I tried to breathe it all in; it was just all too perfect - too amazing and beautiful. The organ suddenly started playing the same song that every girl has dreamt of hearing since their 12th birthday. My heart starts to flutter as Justin and Tyler gently, but forcefully, drag me down the isle. "One step, two step, keep smiling.." was continuously flowing through my head, reminding me of the wedding video I watched a week prior to this day. As I walked down the petal covered isle, all eyes were on me, but I couldn't stop staring at the fella in the penguin suit who was anxiously waiting to take my hand and my heart - thankfully, he hadn't ran off yet. In a matter of seconds, his eyes went from being elated to being completely startled. I began walking slower with each gasp I heard...noticing that everyone wasn't gasping because of the fact that I was a hot mama. I kept asking myself, "what is happening...?" Looking up to find my better half, I found him rushing down the mile-long isle trying to be with me. My two towers of support held on tight as my world started shaking. I looked over at Tyler and said, "Tyler...something's not right."
"Haley!...Haley!? What the crap are you doing? C'mon! They just put the food out, and I am so hungry I could eat a horse," screamed Maggie as she nudged me out of my daydream. "What? Oh...I am not really that hungry anymore...thank you though," was my startled response. She started looking me up and down, then asked me, "Haley...are you trying out anorexia? Trust me - it's not a good look. You haven't eaten since lunch yesterday. It's 5:37 in the freaking afternoon. Don't be stupid!" She grabbed my arm, directing me to the long table of food. After looking around, I put two items on my plate just to calm her down, then I walked back to our table. As we both sat down, the announcer started saying something about the bride and her father. Before I could grasp the words he was speaking, Tim McGraw's voice started filling my ears with "gotta hold on easy as I let you go. Gonna tell you how much I love you, though you think you already know." My eyes quickly found the dance floor where the bride was dancing and laughing with her father. As he spun her around like a princess, my mind started thinking about my dad, and I begin to imagine it was us two dancing our last dance together. Before I could get far into that thought, tears started to swell in my eyes and Maggie nudged me on my arm saying, "Haley...I've been meaning to ask you something. So, um...can I wear a tux to your wedding and dance with you during this particular moment? Tim McGraw, head on my shoulder and everything!" Busting out in laughter, I looked at her and said, "of course, Margo." She grabbed my hand while my eyes crept back to the dance floor where they were finishing out their final dance. "Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl". When the song ended, they slowly let go, and her father leaned in and whispered, "I love you, princess." After clapping for them, I couldn't stop smiling, thinking about what Maggie was going to whisper in my ear after our final dance together - she is a handful. ;)
 |
| Can you say, Snow Beast? |
"And you hold me in your arms
And all that I can see
Is my future in your hands
And all that I can feel
Is how long ever after is
It's all that I can do
To be with you, just to be with you."
Wedding Dress - Matt Nathanson
As a result, the one important thing I got out of that whole wedding weekend is, ALWAYS have your wedding indoors. ;) I hope you all have a wonderful hump day! I just a little dance realizing that there is only TWO MORE DAYS until the weekend. :) - Yeah, the people that I am working with right now are wondering if I drank coffee again today, wshoo. Please remember: be safe, never sorry - life is full of mistakes, so don't ever be sorry for living yours to its fullest. Yes - that means go skydiving right now. :)
Love always,
Haley
"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself...Aloud."
- Coco Chanel
- Coco Chanel
No comments:
Post a Comment